George Hewitt (1889–1953)

This You Tube video gives a flavour of the area George grew up in as it was last century.

The houses of that time have all been demolished now, but the photos below show what the area looked like in the 1950s when the original terraces were still there, and give a flavour of the area at the time when George was a child. The houses were typical two up, two down terraced houses. Each house would have had an attic and cellar, an outside 'privvy' and back garden.

At the age of 1 year George was living with his family at 31 Hollywell Road, Sedgley, Staffordshire, England

Father: Thomas Job Hewitt, age 27 - a sheet iron roller.

Mother: Sarah Hewitt, age 23

Brothers: Thomas (age 5) and Arthur (age 3)

The family had moved to the Parkfield Road. It was still classed as Sedgley - but the other side of the Road was Wolverhampton! The boundary ran down the middle of it.

The house was number 590, a three bedroomed terrace house - and Parkfield Road was considered a very good neighbourhood at that time. The photo does not do the house justice, the area is very run down now compared to what it was in 1900.

With such a large family and three wage earners in the family it was necessary, and also possible, to 'move up in the world'. They would have been very proud of their new house.

George was age 11. He was living with his father, Thomas Job, who was now aged 37 and still working as a 'cold roller' in the steel mill and his mother, Sarah, who was aged 34 and keeping house. His brothers also lived at home. There were now five brothers - no sisters! Sons meant good income for the family. In those days girls were paid a lot less than boys, even when doing the same job... but you still had to feed and clothe them!

His eldest brother was self employed as a hairdresser working from the family home. It was common for home industries to be run from the front room - perhaps this was the case with Thomas. Thomas was 15 years old.

Arthur was now 13 and in full time work as a machinist/driller at the steel works.

Albert was aged 8 years and Walter was 5 years old.

By the time George was 21 the family had moved nearer to the Fighting Cocks. They remained on the Parkfield Road, but towards the more salubrious end of the road - away from Bilston and towards Wolverhampton.

The new house, number 680, was an end terrace with a large bay window. It would have probably had a coloured lead window in the front door. The windows would be sash windows and the front step would have been srubbed daily. This was a house to be proud of - the home of the family of a successful man!

The house had a very large garden - about twice the size of the previous one - excellent for growing your own food and holding family parties..

There would have been a vegetable plot and fruit trees would have been planted. They would have probably keept hens and geese - even a pig!

Thomas Job, 47, was now a 'sheet turner' at the Steel Mill and his wife Sarah Ann, 43, kept house.

Arthur, now 23, was a 'sheet mill shearer', and George, 21, Arthur, 18, and Walter 15 were all Cold Roll Assistants.

The household had a really good income!

Brother Thomas now had his own family. He was now working at the steel mill as a sheet mill roller. He had his own home. He was living at 52 Wolverhampton Road (also called Sedgley Road!) - a continuation of the Dudley Road from Wolverhampton.

Thomas Hewitt was 25, his wife Bridget Agnes Hewitt was also 25. They had two daughters Winnifrede Hewitt, aged 3, Eileen Hewitt age 7 months and Florrie Bennett aged 13 was living with them, working as a domestic servant.

July 1913

Thomas Hewitt (1914–1977)

Thomas and Bridget emigrated to Sydney Australia - both at the age of 60. They travelled on the Mooltan P&O Ship. By that time Thomas was a Mill Superintendant. That is a very high paid job and he would have been very much in demand in Australia at the time.

He had been living in Villiers Street, Bilston before he emigrated - a large semi-detached.

His executor was his son Thomas.